Predicting factors of postnatal information needs of Afghan migrants women in Iran

Since women experience numerous physical and psychological changes after childbirth, the postnatal period is a sensitive stage for mothers, and they should have access to essential information to cope with these changes. This study aims to determine the predicting factors of the postnatal information needs of Afghan immigrant women living in Iran.

The present research is a cross-sectional study performed on 280 Afghan pregnant women referred to the selected perinatal health clinics in the southeast of Tehran province from May 22 till July 22, 2018. Using continuous sampling, data were collected by a questionnaire asking for demographic, midwifery, and postnatal information needs. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA, independent t-test, and multiple linear regressions were used for data analysis in SPSS version 21.

The findings revealed that the highest and lowest postnatal information needs consisting of having information about postnatal problems (M=3.40, SD=0.3) and initiation of sexual intercourse after childbirth (M=3.08, SD=1.15). According to the multiple linear regression model, receiving routine pregnancy care (P=0.01) and age (P=0.04) were both significantly correlated with the mean of postnatal information needs so that these two variables predict 24% of the total score of postnatal information needs.

Women must receive postnatal training and information based on their needs; the demographic and midwifery characteristics of Afghan women should also be considered too.